Heritage weekend at Hastings Pier
recalls memories of a bygone era

There’s a lot happening at Hastings’ newly opened Pier and a new an exhibition that takes place over the bank holiday weekend promises to give visitors a fascinating insight into it’s past.

Organised by the Hastings Pier Charity, the special Heritage weekend takes place this Saturday and Sunday (May 28/29), 11-3pm. Beatrice Rapley Learning and Education Manager Hastings Pier Charity says it’s an opportunity not to be missed. “Come along to Hastings Pier this weekend and try out the new ‘Memories Room’. The new state of the art multi-touch tables designed by Kiss the Frog, specialists in interactive media for museums and exhibitions.

“The innovative design of the tables is believed to be totally unique. The roulette style celebrates the archival material in a playful style – allowing the user to select a theme and time period and ‘spin the wheel’. This randomised approach is great fun and the mini games broaden the appeal of the archive to a younger audience.

“As the content changes and updates, visitors have plenty of reasons to come again and again!”

Hastings Pier Charity also launched their new online archive called the ‘Digital Memory’, where it’s possible to browse hundreds of old photos of the Pier.

Beatrice says visitors can also meet archive volunteers who are knowledgeable about the history of the Pier who have worked for over two years to amass the content of the archive. “Newly recruited heritage interpretation volunteers will answer questions, demonstrate equipment, listen to your memories and if you’d like to bring along your memorabilia they will scan it for you to potentially be added to the archive,” she said.

See also the Pier’s exhibition with fascinating snippets of information about the Pier’s colourful past. This bold new display includes a time lapse film by Jeremy Enness and still images by John Cole. Both local photographers have been documenting the reconstruction of the Pier for over two years and their work vividly captures the enormity of the task achieved.

The rest of the Pier’s interpretation scheme can be found out and about around the Pier with the new binoculars at the Pier Head, a history trail, children’s film and trail – all are free.